UTA defeats Ragin’ Cajuns in Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball semifinals

BOX SCORE (PDF)

PENSACOLA, Fla. – Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Starr Jacobs scored a game-high 28 points Sunday to lead second-seeded UTA to a 75-65 win against third-seeded Louisiana for the program’s first trip to the finals at the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Conference Women’s Basketball Championships at the Pensacola Bay Center.

UTA (19-7) will face top-seeded Troy in Monday’s championship game. While the Lady Mavs will be making their first appearance in the title tilt, Troy will make its fourth all-time appearance, winning titles in 2016, 2017 and 2021. The finals of the Hercules Tires Sun Belt Women’s Basketball Championship are slated for a 1 p.m. CT tip on Monday. The game will be nationally televised by ESPNU.

Jacobs played all 40 minutes in the win, making 12-of-21 shots from the field and totaling 28 points. She also brought down a game-high 10 rebounds for her third double-double of the season. It was Jacobs’ league-leading 14th 20-point game of the season.

Senior Claire Chastain charted 15 points for the Lady Mavs, including a trio of three-pointers. Terryn Milton also scored in double figures with 10 points and dished out five assists.

UTA shot 50 percent (29-of-58) from the field in the game. In three of the contest’s four quarters, the Lady Mavs shot better than 50 percent, including a 64.3 clip (9-of-14) in the opening period. Louisiana shot 40 percent (24-of-60) from the floor. UTA won the rebound battle 37-31.

Louisiana (18-7) was led a team-high 24 points from Lanay Wheaton as one of three Ragin’ Cajuns to score in double figures. Destiny Rice added 11 points and Tamera Johnson totaled 10. Wheaton and Rice played the entire 40 minutes.